CVE-2015-0589 in WebEx Meetings Server
Summary
by MITRE
The administrative web interface in Cisco WebEx Meetings Server 1.0 through 1.5 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary OS commands with root privileges via unspecified fields, aka Bug ID CSCuj40460.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0589 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Cisco WebEx Meetings Server administrative web interface. This vulnerability affects versions 1.0 through 1.5 of the software, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this communication platform. The flaw specifically resides in the administrative web interface components that handle user inputs, allowing authenticated attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary operating system commands with root-level access. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that transforms limited administrative access into complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper input validation within unspecified fields of the administrative interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input parameters that bypass normal validation mechanisms, ultimately leading to command injection attacks. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94, which cover command injection and code injection flaws respectively. These weaknesses allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system with elevated privileges, effectively providing them with complete control over the affected server infrastructure. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised legitimate users.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0589 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation results in complete system compromise with root privileges. An attacker with access to the administrative interface can execute any command available to the root user, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system modification, service disruption, or establishment of persistent backdoors. This vulnerability can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to sensitive meeting data, user credentials, and system configurations stored within the WebEx server environment. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences due to the exposure of sensitive information and unauthorized system access. The vulnerability also enables attackers to use the compromised server as a launching point for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0589 should include immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for Cisco WebEx Meetings Server. Organizations must ensure all administrative interfaces are properly secured through strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication where possible. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit access to administrative functions to only authorized personnel with legitimate business requirements. Regular security audits and monitoring of administrative interface access logs should be conducted to detect anomalous activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK techniques covering privilege escalation and command execution, making it essential for security teams to monitor for these specific attack patterns in their network traffic and system logs. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of defense against similar injection-based attacks.